Cathedral
Protected Area
Coral Nui Nui
Why dive here
With 32+ marine species recorded in the area - including bull sharks, humpback whales and pufferfish - Cathedral offers some of Easter Island (Rapa Nui)'s richest cave diving. Water ranges 21-26°C, warmest February, March, April.
Cathedral is probably our favourite dive on Rapa Nui, a true standout. Dropping down, you’ll find yourself navigating a network of volcanic rock arches and swim-throughs, not really a cave in the traditional sense, but more an open system of caverns. It’s the light here that truly makes it special. Sunbeams slice through the water, creating these ethereal shafts that dance on the rocks, illuminating the black teatfish and spotted puffers that seem to drift lazily in the currents. Visibility on a good day can hit 40 metres, making the whole place feel even more immense. We’ve had some cracking encounters with green wrasse and the occasional passing Allison’s tuna here, too. Keep an eye out for the banded thicklip and blueskin; they’re often tucked into crevices. This site is definitely one for intermediate divers comfortable with overhead environments, though it never truly feels enclosed. We’d suggest going in the morning; the light show is at its best then.
Typical Cathedral Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Overhead environment - never enter without proper cave/cavern training, redundant equipment, and a guideline.
Always perform a 3-minute safety stop at 5m before surfacing.
Nearest Dive Centres to Cathedral
Dive shops near Cathedral
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Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Cathedral
Cathedral Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Cathedral, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (-27.15, -109.43) (2km away)
October Averages
Sea Temperature
21°C
69°F · Range: 19.8–21.9°C
Air Temperature
18°C
65°F
Wind Speed
7.44 m/s
14.5 knots
Atmospheric Pressure
1024.6 hPa
Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data
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